Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 5 'The Honorable Mr. Marley'
02/07/02
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Hey, you know how we complimented artists we like on their Grammy
nominations last week? Well, there was one rather significant artist
we neglected to mention -- the one and only Bob Marley. Now it just
so happens that yesterday was Bob Marley's birthday (he would have
been 57), so perhaps it was appropriate that we should have waited.
Believe it or not, folks, this is the first time Bob Marley has ever
been nominated for a Grammy. What's the nomination for, you ask? It's
in the category of "Best Long Form Music Video" for the documentary
Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story. Released by Palm Pictures in June 2001, Rebel Music is now available on DVD and VHS.
In other news, feast your eyes upon the "What's New" list to your
left. Yes, we know that Epitonic has been fairly static in recent
weeks and we hope we can atone for it with these fresh offerings
(many of which are also featured in this week's playlist). Watch
for lots more to come.
"Love Athena"
by
The Olivia Tremor Control
The granddaddy of the sprawling, amorphous Elephant 6 Collective, the now more-or-less defunct Olivia Tremor Control married the progressive sounds of the latter-day Beatles with Krautrock, psychedelia, musique concrete, free noise, and pretty much everything else they could get their hands on, to create dense, labyrinthine, and utterly magical experimental pop opuses.
"The Best Of Us"
by
Fugu
French Anglo-pop of the highest caliber, with an obvious fondness for the soaring, production-driven pop products of the 1960s. Fugu's music falls in line with the svelte, shimmering nostalgia of current bands like the High Llamas, Cardinal, and the Minders.
"Ordinaries"
by
Triangle
Enjoyably tongue-in-cheek electro-pop from the emerging tongue-in-cheek electro-pop stronghold of St. Paul, Minnesota. Fun, accessible music that belies its laptop origins.
"Sway"
by
Vertical Cat
London-based graphic artist and musician Dan Arthure, aka Vertical Cat,
follows in the footsteps of Tomato Corp's Karl Hyde (aka Underworld), with his debut track "Sway," from the Sulfur compilation Compound.
"Deep Grey Night"
by
Surface Of Eceon
The collision of players from fellow interstellar space crews Yume Bitsu and Landing yields a supernova of shimmering, heavily textured, cosmic improv.
"Show Your Face"
by
Nad Navillus
Nad Navillus shows that minimalist voice-and-guitar songwriting can be remarkably soulful and searching. Slightly experimental, very pretty neo-folk from the guitarist of Songs: Ohia.
"The Ghost Of An Unkissed Kiss"
by
Trembling Blue Stars
A loose ensemble headed by Robert Wratten, formerly of the Field Mice and Northern Picture Library. Melancholy, airy post-Sarah Records dream pop.
"Dead Angels Make Slow Sound"
by
The Detachment Kit
Chicago's The Detachment Kit plays nervous, dynamic, guitar-driven art-punk that delivers sloppy dissonance and smart hooks in equal measure.
"Relative Ways"
by
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
This Austin, Texas foursome lives up to its lengthy, fearsome name with awe-inspiring sonic ambition. Trail of Dead abandons indie rock formulas in favor of building awesome, precarious towers of sound that are like nothing you've ever heard before.
"The Egg"
by
Shiner
If you've ever found favor in the heavier side of life, you need to check out the twisting thunder of Shiner. There's sweet and soothing gold here buried deep beneath angular ax swinging and six feet of emotional turmoil.
"Delivery"
by
Erase Errata
San Francisco quartet Erase Errata channels the skeletal rhythms of British post-punk, the abrasive rush of no wave, and the feisty energy of riot grrl punk into intensely angular, incredibly vital music that will blow you away.
"New York"
by
Nikki Sudden
From his early days with the post-punk greats the Swell Maps, the rambling, shambling Nikki Sudden has been one of underground rock's most prolific artists, influencing numerous bands with a diverse brand of music that runs the gamut from raw punk to raunchy garage to silly glam to jangle-pop to country-rock, yet always bears the indelible stamp of Nikki Sudden.
